diff --git a/writefrudata.cpp b/writefrudata.cpp
index e704f04..704df12 100644
--- a/writefrudata.cpp
+++ b/writefrudata.cpp
@@ -561,13 +561,13 @@
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------
 // Cleanup routine
+// Must always be called as last reference to fru_fp.
 //------------------------------------------------------------
 int cleanup_error(FILE* fru_fp, fru_area_vec_t& fru_area_vec)
 {
     if (fru_fp != NULL)
     {
         std::fclose(fru_fp);
-        fru_fp = NULL;
     }
 
     if (!(fru_area_vec.empty()))